Nathan MacKinnon, a center, stands with officials from the Colorado Avalanche sweater after being chosen 1st overall in the first round of the NHL hockey draft, Sunday, June 30, 2013, in Newark, N.J. (Bill Kostroun/AP)

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2012 NHL #1 Draft Pick Nail Yakupov

Edmonton Oilers right wing Nail Yakupov (64), of Russia, shown during an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild Sunday March 3, 2013 in St. Paul, Minn. (Genevieve Ross/AP)

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2011 NHL #1 Draft Pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

ILE - In this Nov. 21, 2011, file photo, Edmonton Oilers center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins moves the puck during an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars in Dallas. Nugent-Hopkins has proved he was the No. 1 overall pick for a reason. The Oilers rookie has drawn comparisons to The Great One and headlines a fine first-year class in the NHL. (Tony Gutierrez/AP)

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2010 NHL #1 Draft Pick Taylor Hall

Edmonton Oilers' Taylor Hall, left, skates during the warm up, prior to the first period of a preseason NHL hockey game against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Edmonton on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2010. (John Ulan/AP)

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2009 NHL #1 Draft Pick John Tavares

New York Islanders' John Tavares (91) during an NHL hockey game against the Atlanta Thrashers on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009, in Uniondale, N.Y. (Kathy Kmonicek/AP)

** FILE ** Chicago Blackhawks' Patrick Kane celebrates after scoring during the shootout of an NHL hockey game against the Detroit Red Wings in this Oct 6, 2007 file photo, in Chicago. For all Patrick Kane has done, beating boyhood idol Dominik Hasek in a shootout, leading NHL rookies in scoring, and throwing out the first pitch at a Cubs game, over the past six months, he's had difficulty putting it all into perspective. Perhaps, Kane wondered, whether those pinch-me moments will finally begin falling into place Saturday. That's when the Chicago Blackhawks young star will step on the ice for his first game at Buffalo, where Kane spent his childhood rooting for his beloved Sabres from his father's rinkside seats. (Jerry Lai/AP)

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2005 NHL #1 Draft Pick Sidney Crosby

** FILE ** Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby celebrates a goal he assisted on during the third period of Pittsburgh's 6-3 loss to the Boston Bruins in Boston in a Saturday, Oct. 22, 2005 photo. For 20 years, the NHL All-Star game often was about Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux or both. Now, in the first All-Star game in three years, it is Sidney Crosby, at age 19, just like Gretzky and Lemieux in their All-Star debuts, who has become the sport's signature star. (Winslow Townson/AP)

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2004 NHL #1 Draft Pick Alexander Ovechkin

Alexander Ovechkin, of Russia, puts on a Washington Capitals hat after being selected as the first overall pick of the NHL Draft, Saturday, June 26, 2004, at the RBC Center in Raleigh, N.C. (Karl DeBlaker/AP)

Columbus Blue Jackets' Rick Nash celebrates after scoring a goal in the second period against the Chicago Blackhawks, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2002, in Columbus, Ohio. (Terry Gilliam/AP)

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2001 NHL #1 Draft Pick Ilya Kovalchuk

Atlanta Thrashers' Ilya Kovalchuk of Russia gets back to his feet after being knocked down in the first period against the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2005, in Atlanta. Kovalchuk was playing in his first game since signing a new contract with the team last week. (John Bazemore/AP)

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2000 NHL #1 Draft Pick Rick DiPietro

New York Islanders' goalie Rick DiPietro reaches to block a shot by the Carolina Hurricanes' during the third period of Friday, April 2, 2004, game played at the RBC Center, in Raleigh, N.C. The Islanders' won 6-4 and clinched that final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.(Bob Jordan/AP)

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1999 NHL #1 Draft Pick Patrik Stefan

Atlanta Thrashers center Patrik Stefan is congratulated by center Ray Ferraro after scoring with 2:16 left in the third period to give Atlanta a 3-2 lead over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, April 3, 2001. Stefan also added an empty net goal as the Thrashers scored three times and defeated the Senators 5-2. (Alan Mothner/AP)

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1998 NHL #1 Draft Pick Vincent Lecavalier

Tampa Bay Lightning's Vincent Lecavalier celebrates after scoring what proved to be the game-winning goal during the third period of their 5-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens Thursday night Feb 12, 2004 in Tampa, Fla. Montreal defenseman Francis Bouillon (51) and goalie Jose Theodore skate in the backround. (Chris O'Meara/AP)

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1997 NHL #1 Draft Pick Joe Thornton

Boston Bruins Joe Thornton, laughs during a news conference introducing him to the local media in Boston, Mass., Friday, August 8, 1997. Thornton, of St. Thomas, Ontario, was the first pick in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. (Elise Amendola/AP)

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1996 NHL #1 Draft Pick Chris Phillips

Chris Phillips stands with Ottawa Senators officials Ray Shero, left, and Pierre Gauthier, right, after being chosen the first pick during the National Hockey League Draft, Saturday, June 22, 1996, at Kiel Center in St. Louis. (James A. Finley/AP)

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1995 NHL #1 Draft Pick Bryan Berard

New York Islandersí Bryan Berard mixes it up with Los Angeles Kingsí Brent Grieve during their game at the Forum in Inglewood, California on Friday, Oct. 4, 1996. (Holly Stein/AP)

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1994 NHL #1 Draft Pick Ed Jovanovski

Florida Panthers Ed Jovanovski (55) hugs teammate Stu Barnes (14) after scoring a goal against the St. Louis Blues in the second period at the Miami Arena Sunday Feb. 11, 1996. The Panthers and the Blues finished tied 2-2. (Marta Lavandier/AP)

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1992 NHL #1 Draft Pick Roman Hamrlik

Calgary Flames defenseman Roman Hamrlik, of Czech Republic, skates with the puck in the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2007, in Dallas. (Matt Slocum/AP)

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1991 NHL #1 Draft Pick Eric Lindros

Top draft pick of the National Hockey League, Eric Lindros, center, who will play with the Quebec Nordiques, is seen June 22, 1991. (AP Photo)

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1990 NHL #1 Draft Pick Owen Nolan

Anaheim Mighty Ducks defenseman Fredrik Olausson, left, and San Jose Sharks right winger Owen Nolan watch as the puck flies past them during first period action at the Pond in Anaheim, California on Friday, Oct. 18, 1996. (Chris Pizzello/AP)

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1989 NHL #1 Draft Pick Mats Sundin

Toronto Maple Leafs' Mats Sundin (13) puts the puck past Chicago Blackhawks goalie Ed Belfour for a goal during the third period of Toronto's 5-3 victory in the first game of the teams' first-round playoff game, Sunday, May 7, 1995 in Chicago. (Fred Jewell/AP)

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1988 NHL #1 Draft Pick Mike Modano

Dallas Stars Mike Modano raises his hands after scoring the first goal of the game, as San Jose Sharks goalie Mike Vernon sits in front of the net in the first period, Wednesday Jan. 13, 1998 at the San Jose Arena in San Jose, Calif. (George Nikitin/AP)

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1987 NHL #1 Draft Pick Pierre Turgeon

St. Louis Blues' Pierre Turgeon (77) and Minnesota Wild's Curtis Leschyshyn (4) go after a loose puck during the first period in St. Louis, Friday, Oct. 13, 2000. The Blues won 2-0. (James A. Finley/AP)

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1986 NHL #1 Draft Pick Joe Murphy

Jubilant Edmonton Oilers celebrate a second period goal by Joe Murphy, second from right, that made the score 6-2 over the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup final series game at Boston, Friday, May 18, 1990. The Oilers beat Boston by a final score of 7-2 to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. From left are Adam Graves, Steve Smith, Murphy, and Reijo Ruotsalainen. (Elise Amendola/AP)

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1985 NHL #1 Draft Pick Wendel Clark

St. Louis Blues goalie Curtis Joseph makes a leg save against the Toronto Maple Leafs' Ed Olczyk (16) while teammate Wendel Clark (17) looks on during first period action of their NHL playoff game in St. Louis, Friday, April 7, 1990. (Andy Hoekstra/AP)

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1984 NHL #1 Draft Pick Mario Lemieux

** FILE ** Pittsburgh Penguins' Mario Lemieux reacts after scoring his first NHL hockey goal against Boston Bruins goalie Pete Peters in Boston, Oct. 12, 1984. Penguins star and owner Mario Lemieux, one of hockey's greatest players, is retiring for the second time, a team official said Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2006. (Paul Benoit/AP)

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1983 NHL #1 Draft Pick Brian Lawton

Minnesota North Stars first round draft choice Brian Lawton meets the press after announcement that the 18-year-old had signed a four year contract with the North Stars in Minneapolis, Aug. 5, 1983. Lawton passed up a chance at the Olympic hockey team. (Jim Mone/AP)

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1982 NHL #1 Draft Pick Gord Kluzak

Montreal Canadiens Chris Nilan strips the shirt off Boston Bruin Gord Kluzak’s back during one of the many fights in NHL game at Boston Garden on Thursday, Jan. 15, 1988. The Bruins came out of it winners by a score of 3-2. (Carol Francavilla/AP)

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1981 NFL #1 Draft Pick Dale Hawerchuk

Dale Hawerchuk raises his arm and cheers as he tied the score at 3-3 for the Campbell Conference NHL All-Star team near the end of the third period in the NHL All-Star hockey game in Hartford, Connecticut on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 1986. The Prince of Wales Conference won the game 4-3 in overtime. At left is Glenn Anderson (9 in white) of the Wales Conference. The Campbell jersey is orange, the Wales Conference jersey white and orange. (Don Heiny/AP)

Minnesota North Stars Bobby Smith (15) sends Edmonton Oilers Wayne Gretzky into the boards and to the ice during first period action in Bloomington, Minn. on Thursday, Nov. 20, 1981. The North Stars held Gretzky scoreless as the teams played to a 2-2 tie. (Mone/AP)

Washington Capitals' Rick Green (5) moves up the ice after picking up the puck that was lost by Pittsburgh Penguins Bobby Simpson (28) on the ice in the background In Landover, Md., Jan. 31, 1982. (Joe Giza/AP)

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1975 NHL #1 Draft Pick Mel Bridgman

Boston Bruins’ Brad Park, 22, is checked against boards by Philadelphia Flyers’ Mel Bridgman, 10, in battle for puck as Bruins’ Dallas Smith, 20, recovers the puck, in first period action of their National Hockey League playoff game at Boston Garden in Boston on Tuesday, May 5, 1976. (AP Photo)

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1974 NHL #1 Draft Pick Greg Joly

Greg Joly, first player chosen in the National Hockey League's amateur draft, tries on a jersey after he signed a multi-year contract with the Washington Capitals at Capitol Centre in Landover, Md., May 28, 1974. From left are: Milt Schmidt, general manager of the team, Joly and Abe pollin, chairman of the board of the team. (William Smith/AP)

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1973 NHL #1 Draft Pick Denis Potvin

New York Islanders Captain Denis Potvin holds the NHL Stanley Cup after his team beat the Edmonton Oilers in four games to win the Cup in Uniondale, New York on May 18, 1983. Potvin?s Jersey is white with blue and red bands on his sleeves. (Bill Kostroun/AP)

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1972 NHL #1 Draft Pick Billy Harris

New York Islanders Billy Harris. (AP Photo)

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1971 NHL #1 Draft Pick Guy Lafleur

Guy Lafleur (10) of the Montreal Canadiens cuts in front of Aaron Broten of the New Jersey Devils during third period NHL action at the Meadowlands Arena in East Rutherford, N.J., Dec. 20, 1983. Lafleur scored his 500th career goal as Montreal beat the Devils 6-0. (Bill Kostroun/AP)

Montreal Canadiens goalie Michel Plasse, comes out of the net after making save on Fred Stanfield of the Boston Bruins (17) in second period of their NHL game in Boston, April 1, 1973. Bruins' Don Marcote is at right. (AP Photo)